MDE announces new state superintendent, conference registration and schedules special meeting

The Mississippi Department of Education updated the commission May 3 on leadership and near-term events. Dr. Corey Murphy told commissioners that Dr. Lance Evans was selected by the State Board of Education and confirmed by the legislature to begin as state superintendent on July 1, 2024, and thanked Interim Superintendent Dr. Morgeno for his service through June 30, 2024.

Dr. Murphy also announced that registration is open for the annual Elevate Teachers Conference, to be held at Mississippi State University's Riley Center in Meridian; he said the event is planned to be free for educators with a participant capacity of 350 and asked commissioners to help publicize the conference. "It's always well attended," he said.

Separately, Dr. Murphy asked commissioners to join a special virtual meeting to consider proposed changes from the Office of Educator Misconduct Evaluations related to breach of contract and related procedures; commissioners narrowed possible meeting days and the group settled on Friday the 10th at 8 a.m. via Microsoft Teams to ensure adequate quorum and allow review time for the new materials.

Commissioners also acknowledged the announced retirement of Commissioner Shelley Simmons at the end of the school year and thanked her for her service.

The announcements were delivered during the MDE updates portion of the agenda and require no commission vote beyond scheduling the special meeting; the special meeting was set to ensure commissioners could review and discuss proposed amendments before bringing them back for formal action.